Constant clicking sound at high volume.

Even though this is a sound problem I'm not not sure it's because of my sound cards. I get a constant rhythmic clicking sound (around 100bpm I'd say) when the volume is turned up fairly high. The clicking is a lot like the sound my sound system makes when it is turned on but unplugged from the PC, only quieter. The clicking disappears when I plug the sound system in something else, such as a DAT machine, so the problem isn't in my speakers or amp. The speakers only click when it is plugged in my computer. My sound card is an E-MU 1212M. The problem persists on my onboard sound card too. My cables aren't broken. I'm thinking this might be interference with some other hardware or maybe sync problems? I don't know how to fix this.

It's at a constant tempo? It's not hard disk activity related? Does the problem persist if you use the same cable on your dat machine, running the cable along the same route as the computer?

Obviously these are all based around external interference rather than any internal conflicts.

Also, is the noise present with the computer switched off but with power running to it? I had an issue with a failing power supply which caused some wierd noises a year or 2 back

Click to expand...

I tested different cables, all of them yielded the same results. As I said the noise is coming from the speakers and it gets louder when I turn up the volume. My HDD's are almost brand new, there's nothing wrong with them, the PC itself is almost silent. The tempo is almost constant, it's something like maybe 10 constant clicks then 2 faster clicks, repeat, but the pattern is always randomized.

The noise is still present with the computer turned off but with power running to it, but is a lot quieter, only noticeable at maximum volume.

Today the click seemed to be at a lower tempo. I tried the onboard sound card again and the click was a lot quieter... What the hell is going on...